Outreach

Sunday, 16 August 2026,
time to be confirmed

Organizing Committee:

• Dr. Mark Maybury (Chair)
• Prof. Wolfgang Wahlster
• Ms. Josephine Liu
• Dr. Francesca Rossi
• Dr. Mihai Christodorescu

Keksdose, University of
Bremen

AI systems are becoming more capable, more autonomous and more deeply embedded in everyday life. As agentic AI systems begin to plan, act and make decisions on behalf of people and organisations, new questions arise: How can such systems be designed to be safe, trustworthy and accountable? What forms of oversight are needed? And how can technical progress be aligned with societal expectations, regulation and public trust?

This IJCAI-ECAI 2026 panel brings together selected experts to discuss new directions for safe AI agents. The discussion will address emerging challenges in agentic AI, including reliability, transparency, human oversight, governance and real-world deployment. The session will include moderated discussion and audience Q&A.

The panel is connected to the Safe Agentic AI Framework and Ecosystem Roadmapping (SAFER) Workshop, which brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers and students to develop a roadmap for trustworthy agentic AI.

Admission is free. Registration is required and will open soon.

Monday, 17 August 2026, 16:30–18:00

Festsaal, Bremische Bürgerschaft

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, learn, create and make decisions. As AI systems become part of everyday life, the public debate is no longer only about what the technology can do. It is also about how we understand AI, how we use it responsibly and how we shape its impact on society.

The IJCAI-ECAI 2026 AI Lecture invites the interested public to an accessible keynote by Professor Toby Walsh, one of the leading international voices in artificial intelligence. Drawing on more than four decades of experience in AI research and public engagement, Toby Walsh will discuss the opportunities, limits and societal implications of artificial intelligence and what citizens, organisations and institutions need to understand now.

The event will open with welcome remarks by Senator Henrike Müller and Professor Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen.

Admission is free. Registration is required and will open soon.

Tuesday, 18 August 2026, 17:30 – 18:30

AI x Media

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way media content is produced, distributed and interpreted. It is also raising fundamental questions: Who is the author when texts, images or reports are generated with AI? How can journalism maintain trust when disinformation can be produced at scale and with increasing sophistication? And what forms of media literacy are needed in an AI-driven information environment?

At this AI Lounge on Domshof Bremen, experts will discuss how AI is reshaping authorship, credibility and public trust in the media. The session will explore the responsibilities of journalism, technology and society in responding to these developments — and invite the public to join the conversation in an open, accessible format.

Speakers:

• Wiebke Loosen, Leibniz Institute for Media Research, Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI)
• Frank Schulte, Radio Bremen
• Gabriela Molina León, Aarhus University

Organizer:
Laura Spillner und Johanna Rockstroh, University of Bremen

Wednesday, 19 August 2026, 17:30 – 18:30

AI x Administration

Public administration is under growing pressure to become faster, more accessible and more responsive. Digital services, connected citizens, mobile work and increasingly complex administrative processes are changing expectations of how public institutions operate. Artificial intelligence is likely to play an important role in this transformation — from improving internal workflows to supporting better services for citizens.

At this AI Lounge on Domshof Bremen, experts from public administration, academia and the AI sector will discuss how AI can be used responsibly in administrative practice. The panel will address opportunities, risks and practical requirements: Which processes can AI improve? What legal, technical and organisational safeguards are needed? And how can public institutions use AI in ways that strengthen trust rather than undermine it?.

Speakers:

• Dustin Klepper, neuraflow GmbH
• Christina Gloerfeld, Digital Transformation / Team CDO, University of Bremen
• Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Professor of IT Security Law, Bremen University of Applied Sciences
• Representatives of the German Federal Court of Auditors

Organizer:
Thomas Eßmeyer, University of Bremen

Thursday, 20 August 2026, 17:30 – 18:30

AI x Education

Artificial intelligence is already part of everyday learning. Students use AI tools to draft texts, explain concepts, practise languages, solve problems and receive feedback. For schools and universities, this raises fundamental questions: How is AI changing the way we learn, teach and assess knowledge? What skills will learners need in the future? And how can educational institutions respond responsibly?

At this AI Lounge on Domshof Bremen, experts from research and educational practice will discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI in education together with learners who experience these tools first-hand. Short opening statements — two minutes, one perspective — will set the stage for an open discussion on how AI is shaping learning today and what this may mean for future study and career paths.

Speakers:

• Sarah Brommer, Professor of Applied Linguistics with a focus on Text Production Research, University of Bremen
• Kevin Saukel, Student / Managing Director, Education Interactive
• Olaf Zawacki-Richter, Professor of Knowledge Transfer and Learning with New Technologies, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
• A school student from Bremen

Organizer:
Paula Goerke, University of Bremen

Frida, 21 August 2026, 17:30 – 18:30

AI x Workspace

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we work: from personal AI assistants in everyday office routines to the automation of complex organisational processes. These developments open up new opportunities for innovation, productivity and new professional roles. At the same time, they raise urgent questions about data protection, skills and training, participation, social responsibility and the changing value of human work.

At the AI x The Future of Work session, experts from research, industry and labour organisations will discuss how AI is transforming working life — and what is needed to ensure that this transformation is fair, responsible and beneficial in practice.

This event is part of IJCAI-ECAI 2026, the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence. It is made possible as part of the Summer of AI through funding from the Senator for Environment, Climate and Science.

Speakers:

• Arved Steinhauer, Zukunftszentrum Nord
• Daniel Kühn, Bremen Chamber of Labour
• Ann-Kathrin Sobeck-Martens, OFFIS Institute for Information Technology
• Nico Autzen, neusta mobile solutions

Organizer:
Katalina Kopka, University of Bremen